Drone Attack Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Kills One, IAEA Says

By Reuters Aug. 18, 2026 The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. IAEA Imagebank (CC BY 2.0) The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Tuesday that a drone exploded at a bus stop used by staff of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, killing one and injuring several others. In a post on X, the IAEA, citing the plant's director, said the explosion took place around 6 a.m. local time. "The explosion caused 16 casualties among staff and subcontractors, including one death and three serious injuries," the agency said. The plant's director described the incident as "the worst event the plant has faced," the IAEA added. It was not immediately clear whether the drone was Russian or Ukrainian. Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, in the first weeks of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine regularly accuse each other of risking nuclear disaster at the plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Tuesday called on "military commanders responsible for these actions as well as all others aiming [at] nuclear power plants and/or their staff to put an immediate stop to these unacceptable actions." They "constitute great risks to nuclear safety and security during the conflict," Grossi added. Read more about: Zaporizhzhia , Nuclear power , Occupied Ukraine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Building Power Lines to Restart Occupied Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Satellite images obtained by Greenpeace show Russia building about 80 kilometers of new electricity lines and pylons from the occupied port city of Berdyansk... 2 Min read opinion Charles Digges Our Research Shows Russia Wants to Restart This Warzone Nuclear Power Plant Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is on the front line of the war. Evidence shows Russia may try to restart its reactors, despite the risks. 4 Min read Russian-Backed Official Survives Assassination Attempt in Occupied Ukraine, Colleague Says “Anton was lucky, the main direction of the explosion went past him. He was just grazed,” local pro-Russian politician Vladimir Rogov said. 1 Min read UN Nuclear Chief Says 'Very Real' Threat Remains at Moscow-Held Zaporizhzhia Plant “The potential dangers of a major nuclear accident remain very real,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement to the UN Security Council. 1 Min read